author: Howard, O. H.
date: September 20, 1868
extent: 7p
summary: Writing on September 20, 1868 to Colonel John Randolph Lewis, assistant inspector general for the Georgia Freedman's Bureau in Atlanta, Albany agent Brevet Major O.H. Howard details the ongoing incidents that began the afternoon before at a Republican political rally in front of the courthouse in Camilla. He retells several freedmen's accounts of violence perpetrated against themselves and others by whites, and includes in his letter a list of names of those killed and wounded, both freedmen and whites. Adding a personal tone to the letter, Howard describes the disheartening effect that the events have had on him, and his feelings about the inadequacy of his office in dealing with such matters. He says that Dr. Christian Raushenberg has attended to the wounded, states his intention to collect affidavits the next day, and finally, requests that an additional officer be sent to assist.
subjects:

The affair at Camilla seems to have been a massacre. I enclose an accurate list of the killed & wounded so far as known.

A freedman who was a prisoner at Camilla, but who escaped during the night, states that he helped to remove one dead freedwoman, & four wounded freedmen from road within a hundred yards of the Court House. The white men, his captors, boasted, to new comers, of twelve freedmen killed in one pond near Dr Dasher's, two miles from Camilla
(con) [continued]

Another freedman took refuge in a swamp where he lay concealed all last night, with four others near him. He heard, during all the earlier part of the night, the white men scouring the woods, shouting, cursing, and shooting the freedmen. The pursuers, he says were accompanied by Bloodhounds, he heard the cries and shrieks of the fugitives as they were shot, and as they were pulled down by the dogs. Two of the men, near him, becoming frightened, endeavored to escape, and both were shot within his hearing.

It was reported to me as late as 4 this P.M. that, up to 8. O'clock this morning, when my informant left, they were still pursuing the freedmen with horses & dogs.

There has been an intense excitement in town all day.

The town has been filled with freed men, they have swarmed about my office

by hundreds. It has been difficult to restrain them from proceeding " en masse " to Camilla, I have addressed them counselling [counseling] peace and order, I have told them that the offenders shall be punished, and that their lives should be protected, but, I have no heart for my work. I felt no assurance that my promises would ever be fulfilled.

The Mayor addressed them, as did some citizens, but the freed people scoffed at them, would not listen to them, & I had the whole burden to bear, at this hour (midnight) all is quiet.

How long I shall have the heart to deceive these freedmen by false promises, & how long I shall be able to deceive them by such promises, I cannot say, but I imagine that it is not long, & when they